Sanitary dry-commode



June 1957 P. A. PELLERITO ETAL 2,794,989

SANITARY .DRY-COMMQDE Filed Aug. 51, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

lullpm]. I lQc J// M J INVENTORS lo PHILIP A. PELLERITO BY JEROME LOUIS MILANA ATTORNEYS J1me 1957 P. A. PELLERITO ETAL 2, 94,

SANITARY DRY-COMMODE v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1954 lOb FIG .5

v INVENTORS PHILIP A. PELLERITO BY JEROME LOUIS MII ANA K' y Kbw FIG.6

ATTORNEYS llnite States Patent SANITARY DRY-COMMODE Philip Alexander Pellerito, Brooklyn, and Jerome Louis Milana, Hicksville, N. Y.

Application August 31, 1954, Serial No. 453,260 9 Claims. (Cl. 4-111) The present invention relates to commodes or drytoilets and more particularly to an improved commode for the sanitary handling of waste-matter without the use of water-flushing means. Dry. toilets are commonly used in airplanes and other vehicles lacking Water systems or facilities for supplying water under pressure. Such commodes are generally constituted by a cabinet havinga toilet seat thereon and an open-mouthed receptacle under the seat for receiving and storing waste-matter. Commodes of this type are unsanitary'and malodorous. Moreover, they are inconvenient to use and diflicult to clean. Attempts have also been made to devise commodes in which the. waste-matter is effectively packaged after each use of the commode, b'utsuch devices have been excessively complicated and impractical.

In view of the foregoing, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and eflicient commode which will obviate the objectionable features found in the commodes of the type heretofore known and which will add greatly to the comfort and convenience of the user. It is to be understood that a commode in accordance with the invention is intended for installation not only in airplanes but may be used to advantage in other places such as hospitals, private homes in case of illness, camps and the like which lack water-flushing facilities.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a dry-commode adapted to eliminate offensive odors and at the same time to afford a convenient and sanitary means for disposing of excrement.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a commode which is lightweight and portable and which entails relatively, little space for its installation and operation.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide in a dry-commode a conveyor-mechanism adapted to spread a fresh paper-lining. on the bottom surface of the bowl section of the commodewith each use thereof, and a trap-door device adapted to carry and discharge the waste-matter deposited on the lining into a storage receptacle.

Still another object of the. invention, is to provide a A commode of'the abovedescribed type wherein a dual trap rdoor device normally seals in the contents of the storage receptacle, and wherein said trap door is actuated to; discharge the waste-matter into. the receptacle only when thev conveyor-mechanism is operated to spread a fresh lining on the bowl surface in preparation for the next user.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a commode of the above-described type which is of simple and sturdy mechanical design and which may be readily dismantled for cleaning or repair. A significant advantage'ofthe, commode in accordancewith the invention resides in the fact that in the event of mechanical or electrical failure in the conveyor-mechanism, the com,- mode may be quickly converted into a conventional deice vice whereby the trap door is lifted and held open to provide direct access to the waste receptacle. Thus, at no time is the commode unavailable to the user. This factor obviously is of importance in a plane and in other vehicles.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a commode of efficient and sturdy construction which may be manufactured and sold at low cost.

Briefly stated, a commode in accordance with the invention comprises a cabinet having a hinged top cover on which is mounted a toilet seat, the cabinet further including an inner cover dividing the interior into an upper bowl section and a lower waste-container section. Supported over an opening in the inner cover is a dual trapdoor structure including a pair of complementary leaves which are swingably mounted and spring-biased so as normally to seal off the container section from the bowl section. Also provided is a paper conveyor-mechanism comprising a first pair of rollers disposed in the bowl section of the cabinet, each roller feeding a paperstrip along the upper surface of-a respective door of the trap, the two strips being wound upon a second pair of rollers disposed within the container section. Thus, the paper strips lying over the doors of the/trap provide a sanitary lining for the bowl section. The arrangement is such that when the second pair of rollers is driven so as to draw a fresh paper-lining over the doors of the trap, the resultant pressure exerted by the paper on the complementary leaves compels the leaves to openintothe container section, whereby waste-matter on the lining is discharged into a suitable receptacle. It is also possible, in the event of a breakdown in the conveyor-mechanism, to lift the doors ofthe trap device to provide direct access from the bowl into the container section.

For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and furtherfeatures thereof, reference is had to the following detailed description of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein like components in the several views are identified by like reference numerals. I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dry-commode in accordance with the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on an enlarged scaleo the commode.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the trap-door structure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in Fig. 1, showing the trapdoor structure in co-operation with a paper-lining.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the commode, showing the top cover thereof.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken along lines 6-6 in Fig, 2.

Referring now to the drawing, a preferred embodiment of; a commode in accordance with the invention comprises a generally rectangular cabinet 10 which may be fabricated of Wood, sheet metal or a suitable plastic. Cabinet itlincludes a vertical rear wall 10a and a front wall ltib which is slightly, inclined. Formed at thev upper end of cabinet 10 at the rear side thereof is a raised portion or ledge 11. The cabinet is enclosed by a top cover 12 pivotally attached thereto by means of hinges 13. Se-

Patented June 11, 1957 opposing ends of plates and 21 :are provided with laterally-extending bases 22 "and 23 which are attached to cover 15 by hinged brackets 24 and 25, respectively. As indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, brackets 24 and 25 are adapted to permit the lifting of the plates to afford a direct opening into the waste-container section 17'. The adjacent end-portions of the trap-door plates 20 and 21 are constituted by complementary leaves 26 and 27 swingably mounted on the plates by hinges 28 and 29. The extremities of leaves 26rand 27 are crook-shaped and in touching relationship to provide co-acting lips sealing off the container section, The leaves 26 and 27 are springbiased by tension springsl28a and 29a, respectively, whereby the leaves are normally maintained in touching relationship. Extending upwardly from the opposing sides of plate 20 are bafiie panels 20a and 20b, and extending upwardly from the opposing sides, of plate 21 are baffle panels 21a and 21b. These panels prevent splashing of the waste contents onto the internal side walls of the cabinet. If preferred, replaceable cardboard extensions may be mounted on the bafiie panels to provide additional protection.

The paper'conveyor-mechanism for the commode comprises a pair of idler rollers 30, 31 mountedat elevated positions .within bowl section 16 and a pair of driver r01 lers 32 and33 mounted within the container section 17 below the inner cover 15.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 6, the ends of idler roller are rotatably supported by a pair of spaced hangers 34 mounted above inner cover 15 at the front end thereof, while the ends of idler roller 31 are rotatably supported by a pair of spaced hangers 35 mounted above inner cover 15 at the rear end thereof. Hangers 34 and 35 are provided with suitable laterally-extending slots 34a and 35a communicating with the roller bearings and permitting the removal of the rollers from the hangers and the placement thereon of a freshroll of paper. Supported on idler roller 30 is a roll 36 of moisture-proof strip paper, and supported on roller 31 is a similar roll 37. The paper from the rollers constitutes both a lining for the bowl and a conveyor for fecal matter deposited thereon. The paper-strip from roll 36 passes under a V-shaped guide bar 38 mounted above inner, cover 15 as a point intermediate hangers 34 and trap-door plate 20, while the paper-strip from roller. 37 passes under a V-shaped guide bar 39 mounted above the inner cover intermeditate hangers 35 and trap-door plate 21.. k 39 have a length somewhat greater than the width of the papenstrip and impart a trough shape to the paper pas'singthereunder, whereby waste-matter deposited on the paper tends to collect adjacent the opening in the trap-door structure.

The paper-strip from roll 36 passes under guide-bar 38 and over'trap-door plate 20 and leaf 26 hingedly connected thereto. The paper-strip then enters through the complementary lips formed by the ends of leaves 26 and 27 into the waste-container section 17 and is Wound on drive roller 32. The paper-strip from roll 37 passes under guide-bar 39 and over the trap-door plate 21 and the leaf 27 hingedly connected thereto, the paper then entering the waste-container to be wound on drive roller. 33.

The ends of roller 32 are supported below inner cover 15 on a pair of brackets 40, while the ends of roller 33 are supported by a similar pair of brackets 41. As best evident in Fig. 6 withrespect to roller 33, one end of roller 33 is held in place by a spring-loaded pin 42 which projects laterally from one of the brackets 41 and extends into a suitable recess inroller 33. Pin 42 is provided with a stud 43 to permit retraction of the pin and removal of the roller therefrom. The other end of roller Guide bars 38 and 33 is engaged by a short axle 44 rotatably mounted in In order to drive the two rollers 32 and 33 in the same direction, an electric motor 46 of any conventional design adapted to operate from an available power source is provided. Motor 46 is operatively coupled to roller 33 by means of an endless belt 47 linked to pulley 45, and roller 33 in turn is coupled by the other element of the pulley to roller 32 by means of an endless belt 48.

The operation of motor 46 is controlled by means of a switch 49 mounted on the front wall of ledge 11, the switch being connected to motor 46 via a time-control mechanism 50. Time-control mechanism 50 is housed in the interior of ledge 11 and is adapted, when actuated vby switch 49, to render motor 46 operative for a predetermined interval of time suflicient to discharge the waste-matter into the waste-container and to furnish a clean lining for the bowl section.

As pointed out hereinabove, rollers 32 and 33 rotate in the same direction. Consequently, in order to cause the paper-strips from rolls 36 and 37 to move in opposing directions, the strip from roll 36 passes over and under roller 32, while the strip from roll 37 passes under and over roller 33. It is, of course, also possible to accomplish the same result by rotating rollers 32 and 33 in reverse directions, in which event the strips are both wound thereon over and under.

In order to effect co-action between the operation of the paper conveyor and the actuation of the trap door, tensioning' fingers 51 and 52 are attached to hangers 34 and 35, respectively, the fingers being positioned to frictionally engage paper rolls 36 and 37. Thus, in drawing the paper from the paper rolls, a pressure is exerted on leaves 26 and 27 to overcome the tension on the paper rolls. This pressure acts to swing the leaves downwardly into the container section. As a consequence, the wastematter on the paper-strips is dropped into the wastecontainer section 17, where it falls into a suitable receptacle 53 and the soiled paper is wound on the drive rollers 32 and 33.

Receptacle 53 is tubular in form and is suspended from the inner cover 15 by means of hooks 54 attached to the exterior of a hoop 56 attached below the inner cover. This receptacle may be fabricated of a water-proof material, such. as a treated paper, and may be disposed of when full. If preferred a permanent receptacle may be employed made ofa plastic substance, such as cellulose, vinyl, acetate or the like, which may be emptied, cleaned and reused.

To remove the receptacle, thetop cover 12 of the cabinet is first raised, and the soiled rolls on the drive rollers 32 and 33- are released and dropped. into the receptacle, this being accomplished by lifting the trap door to gain access to the pins holding the rollers. Then, the inner cover 15 is unlatched and lifted to permit unhooking and removal of the receptacle. Receptacle 53 is preferably accordion-pleated so that in raising the inner cover, the receptacle is expanded and the waste-contents of the receptacle are not displaced.

As a further sanitary measure, the interior of the waste-container section 17 is covered by a removable liner 55 which may be removed and replaced should wastematerial seep through receptacle and soil the liner.

While there has been shownv what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be manifest that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, to cover in the annexed claims all such changes and modifications falling within the true scope of the invention.

We claim: I

1. A sanitary drycommode comprising a cabinet having a top cover, a toilet seat secured to said top cover and having an opening therein, an inner cover disposed in said cabinet to partition same into an upper bowl section and a lower waste-receiving section, adouble-door trapstructure mounted on said inner cover about an opening therein in registration with said seat opening, said doubledoors being constituted by a pair of plates whose opposing ends are hingedly secured to said inner cover on either side of said opening therein and a pair of spring-biased leaves pivotally mounted on the adjacent ends of said plates to form complementary lips, and a paper conveyormechanism including a pair of spaced idler rollers disposed in said upper section and supporting individual paper-strip rolls, a pair of spaced driver rollers disposed in said lower section, guide means to feed the paper-strips from the rolls in said upper section in opposite directions along the doors of said trap structure and through said lips and onto said drive rollers, means to apply tension to said paper rolls resisting rotation thereof, and means to drive said drive rollers to wind said strips thereon and simultaneously to exert pressure on said leaves to open said lips. v

2. In a sanitary dry-commode, the combination of a cabinet having a top cover, a toilet seat secured to said top cover and having an opening therein, an inner cover disposed in said cabinet to partition same into an upper bowl section and a lower waste-receiving section, and a double-door trap-structure mounted on said inner cover about an opening therein in registration with said seat opening, said doors being formed by a pair of inclined plates disposed in opposed relation, a pair of leaves pivotally mounted on adjacent ends of said plates to form complementary lips, spring means to maintain said lips in a normally-closed position and hinges securing the opposing ends of said plates'to said inner cover to permit lifting thereof into said bowl section.

3. A sanitary dry-commode, comprising a cabinet having a top cover, a toilet seat secured to said top cover and having an opening therein, an inner cover disposed in said cabinet to partition same into an upper bowl section and a lower waste-receiving section, a double-door trapstructure mounted on said inner cover about an opening therein in registration with said seat opening, said doors being formed by a pair of inclined plates disposed in opposing relation, a pair of leaves pivotally mounted on adjacent ends of said plates to form complementary lips, spring means to maintain said lips in a normally-closed position and hinges securing the opposing ends of said plates to said inner cover to permit lifting thereof, and a paper conveyor-mechanism including a pair of spaced idler rollers disposed in said upper section and supporting individual paper-strip rolls, a pair of spaced driver rollers disposed in said lower section, guide means to feed the paper-strips from the rolls in said upper section in opposite directions along the doors of said trap structure and through said lips and onto said drive rollers, means to apply tension to said paper rolls resisting rotation thereof and means to drive said drive rollers to wind said strips thereon and simultaneously to exert pressure on said leaves to open said lips whereby waste matter deposited on said strips is discharged into said lower section.

4. A sanitary commode adapted for installation in aircraft vehicles and the like, comprising a cabinet having a hinged top cover provided with a central opening, a toilet seat mounted on said cover about said opening, a hinged inner cover mounted within said cabinet to divide same into an upper bowl section and a lower waste-receiving section, said inner cover having an opening therein in registration with the opening in the top cover, a double-door trap-structure mounted on said inner cover about said opening, said double-door being constituted by a pair of oppositely hinged plates and a pair of leaves pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of said plates to form complementary lips and spring means to maintain said lips normally closed, and a paper conveyormechanism comprising a pair of idler rollers and paperstrip rolls thereon, a pair of hangers mounted on the upper side of said inner cover to support said idler rollers at the front and rear of said bowl section, a pair of drive rollers mounted at spaced positions below said inner cover at opposite sides of said lips, a pair of guide bars mounted at the upper side of said inner cover adjacent said hangers to direct the strips from said rolls along said doors and through said lips and onto said drive rollers to be wound thereon, means to apply tension to said paper rolls to resist movement thereof and means to drive said drive rollers to overcome said tension on said rolls, thereby to exert pressure on said leaves to open said lips.

5. A sanitary commode, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said drive means includes an electrical motor coupled to said drive rollers and a time-controlled switching device to supply energizing current to said motor for a predetermined period.

6. A sanitary commode adapted for installation in aircraft vehicles and the like, comprising a cabinet having a hinged top cover provided with a central opening, a toilet seat mounted on said cover about said opening, a hinged inner cover mounted within said cabinet to divide same into an upper bowl section and a lower waste-receiving section, :said inner cover having an opening therein in registration with the opening in the top cover, a doubledoor trap-structure mounted on said inner cover about said opening, said double-door being constituted by a pair of plates hingedly secured at opposing ends to said inner cover at either end of said opening therein whereby said plates are liftable, a pair of leaves pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of said plates to form complementary lips and spring means to maintain said lips normally closed, and a paper conveyor-mechanism comprising a pair of idler rollers and moisture-proof paperstrips rolls thereon, a pair of hangers mounted on the upper side of said inner cover to support said idler rollers at the front and rear of said bowl section, a pair of drive rollers mounted at spaced positions below said inner cover at opposite sides of said lips, a pair of guide bars mounted at the upper side of said inner cover to feedthe strips from said rolls along said doors and through said lips and onto said drive rollers to be wound thereon, said bars being V-shaped to impart a trough form to said strips, means to apply tension to said paper rolls to resist rotation thereof and means to drive said drive rollers to overcome said tension on said rolls, thereby to exert pressure on said leaves to open said lips.

7- A commode, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said plates further include baflie panels at the sides thereof.

8. A commode, as set forth in claim 6, further in,- cluding an accordion-pleated receptacle within said lower section to receive waste matter when said trap is opened, said receptacle being detachably hooked to the underside of said inner cover.

9. A commode, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said hangers include lateral slots permitting removal of said idler rollers for replacement of said rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,897 Murphy Aug. 2, 1892 749,769 Wilson Ian. 19, 1904 1,149,529 McGarry Aug. 10, 1915 1,156,175 Rees Oct. 12, 1915 1,227,373 Bohm et al May 22, 1917 1,521,740 Wernli et a1. Jan. 6, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 264,553 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1950 

